Waterproof fabric



'" NETE remiss ATENT intros.

JOHN H. STEVENS,'OF NEW'ARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE OELLULOIDCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WATERPROOF FABRIC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,553, dated October18, 1898. Application filed April 15,1898. Serial No. 677,675- (Nospecimens.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. STEVENS, of the city of Newark, county ofEssex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in lVaterproof Fabrics, of which the following is aspecification.

Fabrics such as cloth, felt, and paper have been coated or saturatedwith pyroxylin solutions for the purpose of making them waterproof. Suchsolutions generally contain oils. The noindrying oils turn rancid in thecourse of time, which gives these fabrics a disagreeable odor and to alarge extent affects the strength. The most prominent non-drying oilused for the purpose has been casteroil. I have improved thesewaterproof fabrics by the introduction of certain new elements into thecombinations, by means of which I secure a waterproof fabric in whichthe tendency of the oils to turn rancid is largely diminished. As aconsequence my fabrics have a less disagreeable odor and are moredurable. I accomplish this by combining my waterproofing solutions withcompounds or salts containing What may be termed the radical C l-I 0 ofphenol, (O ll Ol-l.)

I find that phenol itself (carbolic acid) possesses many objectionableproperties as an ingredient in waterproofing solutions, but that saltsof compound acids containing the phcnoylic radical (J II O or compoundsof the phenoylic radical with bases can be used with success. Thesecompounds of the phenoylic radical with bases are sometimes called saltsof earbolic acid.

The sulfocarbolates and carbolates are the best to use. I have met withsuccess in using sulfocarbolate of soda, for instance, in my mixtures.

As an example of a Waterproofing solution for use in making my compoundfabric I would recommend the following: pyroxylin, one hundred parts;castonoil, one hundred and fifty parts; camphor, one hundred and fiftyparts; sulfocarbolate of'soda, four parts, and wood-spirit sufficient tomake a solution which can be spread. The nature of the peculiardecomposition to which these oils are subject and which results inrancidity has not been understood by chemists. It is not clearly known,for instance, that an antisepin order to enable tic substance wouldoperate to retard such decomposition. I have discovered, however, thatthis is a fact and that the rancidity of castor-oil, for instance, isprobably due to the same causes which generally operate to de composeorganic matter.

While the term antiseptic is a somewhat general one, nevertheless it isperfectly understood by chemists and others, and the antisepticproperties of substances are also well known. Consequently the operatoris already sufficiently informed as to the antiseptic value of thedifferent compounds containing the phenoylic radical, and it istherefore unnec essary for me to give any further description him topractically use this invention.

Above all, I would recommend the sulfocarbolate of soda; but there areother salts and compounds from which the operator may select. I preferto select an antiseptic salt or compound which is soluble in the solventemployed-say in Wood spirit-although while this gives the best effectsit is not absolutely necessary, because antiseptic salts or compoundscan be thoroughly ground with the oil in a paint-mill or otherwise. Theproportions also will vary according to the circumstances-such as theamount of oil, the expected conditions of rancidity, the strength of theantiseptic used, 850.; but in general the proportions will be, say, fromtwo to five parts, by weight, of the antiseptic to each one hundredparts of pyroxylin.

Having fully described my invention, what JOHN II. STEVENS.

\Vitnesses:

ABRAHAM MANNERS, JAMEs W.,Soorr.

